Belmont, California

Sec. 5-27.5 – Spaying/neutering.

(a) No person shall own or harbor … any cat or dog over the age of six (6) months … has not been spayed or neutered, unless such person holds either a license to keep an unaltered dog or cat or license and permit for breeding cats or dogs issued by San Mateo County Animal Control Services. (b) A license shall be issued for an unaltered dog or cat if the owner signs a written statement that such animal will not be allowed to breed unless the owner has first obtained a breeding permit.

Sec. 5-27.6 – Breeding permits; administration.

(a) No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned or harbored, in unincorporated San Mateo County or any city that has adopted the provisions of this chapter, to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit under this section.

(b) San Mateo County Animal Control Services shall administer a permit program to allow breeding of cats and dogs consistent with criteria and according to procedures contained in this chapter.

(c) Each applicant who is issued a permit to breed cats or dogs under this section shall pay a breeding permit fee according to the fee schedule contained in section 5-24 of this Code.

(d) No person shall cause or allow the breeding of a male or female dog or cat without first obtaining a breeding permit issued by animal control services. Such breeding permit is required in addition to any license required under section 5-4 of this Code. Breeding permits shall be valid for twelve (12) months, renewable on an annual basis. Fees for such permit shall be as set forth in section 5-24. All breeding permits shall contain the following terms and conditions and be subject to all of the following requirements:

(1) No offspring may be sold or adopted and permanently placed until reaching an age of at least eight (8) weeks.

(2) No offspring may be sold or adopted until immunized against common diseases, or until they have begun a course of disease prevention under the direction of a State of California licensed veterinarian.

(3) If within one (1) year of placement a new owner becomes unable or unwilling to continue ownership and responsibility for an animal, the permit holder shall assist in placement of the animal. If no suitable placement can be found within six (6) months, the permit holder shall accept return of the animal if healthy and shall become fully responsible for its care.

(4) Any permit holder advertising to the public the availability of any animal for adoption or sale must prominently display the permit number in any publications in which they advertise. Further, the permit number must be provided to any person adopting or purchasing any animal bred by the permit holder.

(5) The breeding permit holder shall adhere to minimum standards regarding the care and keeping of animals developed and approved by the animal control services.

Sec. 5-27.7 – Sale or adoption of cats or dogs.

(d) Prior to release for adoption, any animal adopted from any animal welfare agency shall be spayed or neutered.

Sec. 5-27.8 – Revocation of permit.

(a) Any permit issued pursuant to section 5-27.6 be revoked if the animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe any of the following to be true: … (3) The permittee has failed to comply with any condition or requirement of the permit or has failed to pay any fee imposed under this Code.

Sec. 5-27.9 – Penalty for violation.

(1) A fine not to exceed $100 for a first violation. (2) A fine … $200 for a second violation within one year. (3) A fine … $500 for each additional violation within the same year.